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While research shows the potential benefits of local food systems to improve community economy and quality of life, there is a critique that these studies overlook how informal, non‐market food access practices contribute to local food systems, especially in rural places. McEntee promoted the concepts of traditional and contemporary localism in his work with rural food systems, arguing that the motivations of participants define the categories. Using narrative research with wild harvesters in the Ozark Highlands, we propose that while McEntee's definitions are useful for expanding the conversation about why people may choose local food or not, more efforts should focus on valuing and welcoming the broader intersection of priorities and strategies that people use to engage in local food systems in their communities. Promoting a wider portfolio of local food access strategies is important to communicate that there are a variety of ways to participate in localized food systems, some in regular market transactions and some in informal non‐market ways, and that all are potentially valuable in building sustainable food systems in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Therapists' insights into practising narrative therapy (NT) with children can elucidate the strengths and challenges associated with this practice. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how therapists experience the application of NT with children. Method: Nine Danish narrative therapists working with children participated in semi‐structured qualitative interviews. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Results: Three overall themes were identified; "you have to be crazy about children," "practised ethics" and "practical challenges." Two subthemes were generated: "acting is the key" and "the importance of the system surrounding the child." Conclusion: The narrative therapists experienced NT as applicable for children due to its potential to facilitate a safe place that integrates the child's current stage of development. NT does not serve to "fit" the child but should be perceived as a practised ethic. Therapists accentuated challenges working with NT, specifically related to outsider‐witnessing and staying in a decentred position. The results are discussed regarding their contribution to the evolvement of the narrative therapy profession and to the training and supervision of novice practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theological/spiritual reflection in psychotherapeutic practice has increased in recent years. Approaches for reflection and integration vary depending on the practitioner's spiritual and theoretical beliefs. The integrative approach utilized in this paper is derived from a phenomenological perspective of the author, who was schooled in pastoral theology and later family therapy. Considering the pastoral theologian Seward Hiltner's perspectival approach, this integrative approach creates a conversational method, integrating the client's concerns with specific narrative therapy interventions or practices and the theological/spiritual concepts of immanence–transcendence. Finally, this case study's methodology offers constructive questions that clinical practitioners can apply to specific psychotherapy approaches as well as theological concepts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SHEN Dan is a pioneering and leading figure in the field of narrative studies over the past few decades. This article provides an overview of Shen's outstanding contributions to narrative theory and criticism both in China and in the West, including how she clarifies and develops theoretical concepts, issues, and models in classical narrative poetics and postclassical narratologies, how she reveals various kinds of significant relations both within narratology and between narratology and stylistics. In particular, the article will explicate how Shen's profound interest in the underlying meanings of literary texts has driven her to offer innovative interpretations through an interdisciplinary approach, culminating in the establishment of her new theory and criticism of covert progression and dual narrative dynamics, which goes beyond the Aristotelian tradition focusing on plot development and which has extended and transformed not only narratology but also fictional stylistics and fictional translation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary therapeutic approaches to trauma include an understanding that traumatic experiences are stored implicitly in the body and that the body may 'narrate' these stories through physical symptoms or bodily enactments. In this article, the author reflects on her experience as an art therapist at a specialist therapeutic unit, where she works with young people and families affected by sexual abuse and sexual violence. It weaves together reflections on various personal encounters with the performing and visual arts (outside of the therapy space) that have offered a different lens on themes that regularly surface in clinical work. A selection of images drawn from these engagements with the arts are discussed here, with reference to the endeavour in therapy to support the traumatized body towards healing and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize core themes conveyed by caregivers when sharing narratives of high and low caregiving points and to describe how caregivers structured these narratives. Using consensual qualitative research and thematic analysis, high and low point narratives from 32 former caregivers of persons living with dementia were examined. High point narrative themes involved strengthening relationships with care partners, fulfillment derived from care, lighthearted moments, and fostering the care partners' joy and dignity. Low point narratives involved family conflict and lack of support, personal deficiencies, loss of the caregivers' 'pre-caregiving' life, health system failures, and alienation from their care partner. Across high and low points, caregivers' narratives were structured by three types of narrative elaborations; details unnecessary for factual recall but which enriched narrative sharing. Themes across high and low point narratives encompassed relational issues, how caregiving shaped the caregiver's self-efficacy, and factors that made navigating caregiving easier or more difficult. Both high point and low point narration often involved describing positive aspects of caregiving (PAC). Narrative elaborations may be used by former caregivers to engage in deeper evaluation of their caregiving experiences. We consider how psychotherapeutic techniques can help former caregivers reframe maladaptive narratives, supporting their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While research shows the potential benefits of local food systems to improve community economy and quality of life, there is a critique that these studies overlook how informal, non‐market food access practices contribute to local food systems, especially in rural places. McEntee promoted the concepts of traditional and contemporary localism in his work with rural food systems, arguing that the motivations of participants define the categories. Using narrative research with wild harvesters in the Ozark Highlands, we propose that while McEntee's definitions are useful for expanding the conversation about why people may choose local food or not, more efforts should focus on valuing and welcoming the broader intersection of priorities and strategies that people use to engage in local food systems in their communities. Promoting a wider portfolio of local food access strategies is important to communicate that there are a variety of ways to participate in localized food systems, some in regular market transactions and some in informal non‐market ways, and that all are potentially valuable in building sustainable food systems in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Exploration of client identity negotiations during treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a relatively new area of research. Research suggests that difficulties with identity negotiations may present as a barrier to treatment. This study sought to explore individuals’ identity negotiations during therapy sessions using Compulsive Exercise Activity Therapy (LEAP) combined with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (CBT-AN). Analysis focused on moments in therapy where individuals’ identities were dominated or defined by AN and where alternative identities could be generated. Method 40 in-session transcripts from sessions at early, mid and end points of the CBT-AN (with LEAP) treatment were qualitatively analysed for nine of the 78 participants in the original randomised control trial. Through a constructivist framework, thematic analysis was used to identify surface and latent meanings and discursive material participants used to negotiate their identities in the context of therapy sessions. Results Analysis of in-therapy transcripts generated two themes pertaining to identity negotiations: (1) troubled identities and (2) rebuilding identities and lives outside of AN. Early therapy sessions explored fragmented and AN dominated identities, including how AN was troubling to participants’ sense of self, contributed to conflicted identities, positioned them outside of normality, and was associated with isolated and othering identities. Within therapy sessions, participants engaged in a recursive process of shifting relationships with AN and themselves and building identities and lives outside of the AN identity. This included generating hopes for recovery and the future more frequently in mid- to late- therapy sessions. Conclusion Identity negotiations evident in the therapeutic conversations aligned with the key components of the CBT-AN intervention, including addressing (1) the characterisation of oneself as ‘an anorexic’ and (2) the diversification of roles and activities to broaden and enhance self-concepts. Future developments of therapeutic interventions for AN would benefit from greater consideration of ways to assist individuals to more comprehensively address problematic identities, including uncovering identities hidden by the AN identity and generating preferred identities. Trial Registration: Ethics approval was obtained at the time of the initial study and for this embedded research by the HREC at the Western Sydney University (HR777332).

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women worldwide, which has several negative consequences on the emotional, mental, and emotional states of women. Due to the psychological nature of breast cancer, psychological interventions have been the focus of some studies. It seems that it is necessary to pay more attention to psychological interventions to reduce the psychological suffering of women with breast cancer. Aims: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on pain self-efficacy and hope in refractory metastatic breast cancer patients. Methods: The research method was applied in a semi -experimental way with a pre -test -post -test design and a one-month follow-up with a control group.. The statistical population included all female patients with refractory metastatic breast cancer referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Urmia. 45 patients were selected using a targeted sampling method from the available type. They were randomly replaced into two experimental groups (narrative therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy) and a control group (15 people in each group). Data collection tools included Pain Self-Efficacy Scale (PSEQ), and Schneider Hope Scale (SHS). The first and second experimental groups were treated with narrative therapy by White and Epston (1990) and cognitive-behavioral intervention by Wildermut (2008) for eight sessions each. Follow-up was done after 1 month. Data were analyzed using SPSS-26 software and repeated measure analysis of variance and LSD. Results: According to the results of the LSD test, people who experienced narrative therapy had higher scores in pain self-efficacy and hope compared to people who participated in cognitive-behavioral therapy (p

Objectives: Recently, considerable attention has been paid to the field of positive psychology, and one of the variables that has been investigated in this field is narrative therapy. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of narrative therapy on the psychological capital of mothers of children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Methods: This study was an applied experimental research (pre-test-post-test with a control group). The study’s statistical population includes mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Aliabad Katul City, Iran, in the academic year of 2021-2022 who volunteered to participate in the research. From this population, 30 mothers who scored low on the psychological capital questionnaire were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to two groups (experimental and control). Luthans psychological capital questionnaire was used to collect data. The intervention was a narrative therapy educational program implemented in eight 50-minute sessions in a group format. Data were analyzed using covariance analysis in SPSS software, version 22. Results: The results demonstrated that narrative therapy has a significant effect on increasing psychological capital (P=0.05). Also, the results showed that narrative therapy significantly affects dimensions of psychological capital including self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism. Discussion: Therefore, a training program in narrative therapy can be used as a helpful treatment to increase the psychological capital of mothers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Narrative practice is a field of psychotherapy, a school of psychotherapeutic and social work that pays a lot of attention to the influence of society on a person. One of the most important ideas in narrative psychotherapy is externalization. If you try to define it in practice: the problem is in the problem, not in the person. This lecture (we provide its transcript) talks about how and in what ways the idea of the sexual constitution creates problems for people and how you can get rid of some of these problems. I will offer you knowledge, but this does not mean that you should use it as the ultimate truth. Narrative practice suggests looking at any knowledge as knowledge in a context, in an environment. Someone says it to someone for some reason. There is a great personal interest in my knowledge that I will offer today. As a helping professional, I would like to see the idea of a sexual constitution become somewhat less powerful in our current society.

As a narrative therapist with an interest in psychoanalytic dream analysis, I have troubled myself for quite some time thinking of ways that dream-work can be introduced to my practice through the erudition of the narrative metaphor. However, in implying that the primary constituents of our thoughts and behaviours are not available to our conscious recollection and that they require an ‘expert’ to decipher their meanings, the psychoanalytic metaphor of the ‘unconscious’ and it’s corresponding treatment of the dream poses particular challenges to the de-centered posture of the narrative therapist. In this piece I thereby recruit Derrida’s ideas of the ‘poem’ and his treatment of the ‘unconscious’ to theorize a post-structuralist approach to dream work that can harmonize with the ethics of narrative practice. Becoming of this exploration is a ‘map’ of dream analysis that supports therapists to approach dream life from the position of the bricoleur: a posture that values clients as the author of the dreams possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of post-traumatic stress (PTS) are greater among transgender and non-binary (TGNB) youth compared to their cisgender peers. This disparity has been linked to increased experiences of trauma among TGNB youth, including greater exposure to child abuse, discrimination, hate crimes, and familial and peer bullying and rejection. Few studies to date have examined the use of trauma-focused interventions with TGNB youth. Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) has been identified as a potentially impactful treatment for PTS for communities who experience oppression and human rights violations given its social justice-oriented "testimonial" approach and focus on meaning-making around traumatic experiences. While narrative-based approaches are often considered "best practice" for trauma interventions, youth may present with comorbid conditions that present barriers or often preclude them from receiving trauma treatment, such as selective mutism (SM). In this case series, we describe the use of NET for treating PTS symptoms in two transgender youth with comorbid SM, as well as adaptations to support their engagement and progress in treatment. Treatment progress was observed in reduction of PTS symptoms, increase in self-reported resilience and positive well-being, and full remission of SM, with treatment gains observed 6-months post-discharge. From these cases, we identified that (1) NET is a brief treatment that can address PTS and SM symptoms among TGNB youth; (2) NET is able to be adapted to enhance engagement in a narrative-based, trauma-focused therapy for youth with PTS and SM; and (3) NET can also increase self-perceived resilience and a sense of positive well-being for TGNB youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considering the importance of resilience and emotional regulation as effective psychological components in cancer, psychological interventions to improve these structures is a fundamental necessity. Aims: This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of narrative therapy on resilience and emotional regulation of people with cancer with low psychological toughness. Methods: The research design was semi-experimental and pre-test-post-test with an experimental group and a control group. The statistical population of the study included all cancer patients referred to Tehran hospitals in 2022. The sample consisted of 30 patients who were selected through purposive sampling and randomly replaced in two treatment groups and the control group. Connor and Davidson's resilience scale and Garnefski and Kraaij emotional cognitive regulation were used. The data were analyzed through Mancova and SPSS-20 software. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between the narrative therapy group and the control group in the post-test stage of resilience and cognitive emotional regulation. Conclusion: According to the findings of this research, online narrative therapy and cognitivebehavioral therapy can be used as an effective method to improve resilience and emotional regulation of cancer patients, and in this context, online narrative therapy can be more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is a patient‐reported outcome that assesses the impact of a disease or illness on different domains of a patient's life. Different general and disease‐specific measures can be used to evaluate HRQOL. This article aimed to summarize the evidence for HRQOL among patients with transfusion‐dependent (TDT) and non‐transfusion‐dependent thalassemia (NTDT). We included HRQOL data related to standard therapy with blood transfusions, iron chelation, and/or luspatercept in TDT and NTDT, as well as curative therapies for TDT, including hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and gene therapy. Patients with thalassemia had worse HRQOL scores compared to the general population, and chronic pain was seen to increase in frequency and severity over time with age. NTDT patients reported worse physical health and functioning, mental health, general health, and vitality than TDT patients. However, TDT patients reported worse pain, change in health, and social support than NTDT. Most therapies improved overall HRQOL among thalassemia patients. Deferasirox, an oral iron chelator, was associated with more HRQOL benefits compared to deferoxamine, an intravenous iron chelator. Luspatercept showed clinically meaningful improvement in physical functioning among TDT and NTDT. Furthermore, HSCT and gene therapy were associated with better physical, emotional, and mental domains scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoster-associated pain (ZAP) is a painful condition that significantly impacts a patient's quality of life, often leading to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Over 30% of patients with herpes probably experience PHN. However, the understanding and treatment of ZAP remain inadequate. Common interventional treatments include radiofrequency therapy, nerve blocks, epidural block, and spinal cord electrical stimulation. Among these, radiofrequency therapy is widely used for pain control in ZAP, but the standard pulsed radiofrequency technique can still be improved. Researchers have explored different radiofrequency parameters, modes, targets, and combined treatments to enhance the therapeutic effect. In this paper, we review the latest research findings and incorporate our own departmental investigations. We conclude that high-voltage, long-duration pulsed radiofrequency and radiofrequency thermocoagulation therapy have shown improved therapeutic outcomes, despite some remaining limitations. Emphasis is placed on safety in intercostal nerve and extracranial nerve radiofrequency treatments. Combination therapy is also safe and effective; however, many studies have a low grade of evidence. Further high-quality research and systematic reviews are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the intervention effect of narrative therapy on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), as well as anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents with depressive disorder. Methods Sixty adolescents with depressive disorder and NSSI were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group using coin flipping. The control group received conventional psychological support, while the intervention group received individual narrative therapy in addition to the conventional psychological support (twice a week, 60 minutes per session, for a total of 3 weeks). Assessment of treatment efficacy was conducted using the Adolescent Self-Harm Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, and Children's Anxiety and Mood Scale before the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and one month after the intervention for both groups. Results A total of 26 adolescents in the intervention group and 29 adolescents in the control group completed the entire study. At the end of the intervention and one month after the intervention, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in the NSSI frequency score, NSSI level, anxiety score, and depression score compared to before the intervention (P<0.017). Moreover, at the end of the intervention and one month after the intervention, the intervention group exhibited significantly lower NSSI frequency score, NSSI severity score, NSSI level, anxiety score and depression score compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions Narrative therapy is effective in reducing NSSI frequency and alleviating NSSI severity, as well as anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents with depressive disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exploration of client identity negotiations during treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a relatively new area of research. Research suggests that difficulties with identity negotiations may present as a barrier to treatment. This study sought to explore individuals' identity negotiations during therapy sessions using Compulsive Exercise Activity Therapy (LEAP) combined with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa (CBT-AN). Analysis focused on moments in therapy where individuals' identities were dominated or defined by AN and where alternative identities could be generated. Method: 40 in-session transcripts from sessions at early, mid and end points of the CBT-AN (with LEAP) treatment were qualitatively analysed for nine of the 78 participants in the original randomised control trial. Through a constructivist framework, thematic analysis was used to identify surface and latent meanings and discursive material participants used to negotiate their identities in the context of therapy sessions. Results: Analysis of in-therapy transcripts generated two themes pertaining to identity negotiations: (1) troubled identities and (2) rebuilding identities and lives outside of AN. Early therapy sessions explored fragmented and AN dominated identities, including how AN was troubling to participants' sense of self, contributed to conflicted identities, positioned them outside of normality, and was associated with isolated and othering identities. Within therapy sessions, participants engaged in a recursive process of shifting relationships with AN and themselves and building identities and lives outside of the AN identity. This included generating hopes for recovery and the future more frequently in mid- to late- therapy sessions. Conclusion: Identity negotiations evident in the therapeutic conversations aligned with the key components of the CBT-AN intervention, including addressing (1) the characterisation of oneself as 'an anorexic' and (2) the diversification of roles and activities to broaden and enhance self-concepts. Future developments of therapeutic interventions for AN would benefit from greater consideration of ways to assist individuals to more comprehensively address problematic identities, including uncovering identities hidden by the AN identity and generating preferred identities. Trial Registration: Ethics approval was obtained at the time of the initial study and for this embedded research by the HREC at the Western Sydney University (HR777332). Plain English summary: Current psychological therapies for Anorexia Nervosa (AN) have recently identified that the sense of AN as part of a person's identity, or who they understand themselves to be, may pose barriers for treatment. In this study, therapy session transcripts from previous research using Compulsive Exercise Activity Therapy (LEAP) combined with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for AN (CBT-AN) were thematically analysed to explore participants' experiences of identity shifts in-session. Particular attention was paid to moments in therapy where individuals' identities were heavily influenced by AN and moments where alternative and preferred identities were generated. Outcomes from this study suggested that the process of participants negotiating their identities outside of AN was a gradual and repeated one throughout treatment, which involved building hopes for recovery and a future less dominated by AN. Findings from this research support the need for future treatments to broaden their scope to more comprehensively explore changes in identity during intervention, particularly in building new identities outside of the AN identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful application of cancer immunotherapy has rekindled hope in cancer patients. However, a number of patients are unresponsive to immunotherapy and related treatments. This unresponsiveness in cancer patients toward different treatment regimens can be mainly attributed to severe immune dysfunction in such patients. Several reports indicate that physical exercise can significantly lead to improved cancer patient outcomes. Since exercise gets immense response from the immune system, it can be utilized to improve immune function. Leukocytes with enhanced functions are substantially mobilized into the circulation by a single bout of intense physical exercise. Chronic physical exercise results in greater muscle endurance and strength and improved cardiorespiratory function. This exercise regime is also useful in improving T-cell abundance and reducing dysfunctional T cells. The current available data strongly justify for future clinical trials to investigate physical exercise use as an adjuvant in cancer therapy; however, optimal parameters using exercise for a defined outcome are yet to be established. The components of the immune system associate with almost every tumorigenesis step. The inter-relationship between inflammation, cancer, and innate immunity has recently gained acceptance; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms behind this relationship are yet to be solved. Several studies suggest physical exercise-mediated induction of immune cells to elicit anti-tumorigenic effects. This indicates the potential of exercising in modulating the behavior of immune cells to inhibit tumor progression. However, further mechanistic details behind physical exercise-driven immunomodulation and anticancer effects have to be determined. This review aims to summarize and discuss the association between physical exercise and immune function modulation and the potential of exercise as an adjuvant therapy in cancer prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although breast cancer has been previously considered “cold” tumors, numerous studies are currently conducted to explore the great potentials of immunotherapies in improving breast cancer patient outcomes. In addition to the focus on stimulating adaptive immunity for antitumor responses, growing evidence showed the importance of triggering host innate immunity to eradicate established tumors and/or control tumor metastasis of breast cancer. In this review, we first briefly introduce the breast tumor immune microenvironment. We also discuss innate immune targets and pathways and mechanisms of their synergy with the adaptive antitumor response and other treatment strategies. Lastly, we review clinical trials targeting innate immune pathways for breast cancer therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative therapists empower others, both in relation to dominant negative stories that are told about their lives, and within the therapeutic relationship itself. They try to correct the inevitable power imbalance between therapist and client by adopting a 'decentred' stance, eschewing technical jargon, and by using idiosyncratic externalised language. This article proposes that the way in which we take notes matters for these power-relationships. By asking permission, writing notes openly, and engaging clients in their co-production, we resist disempowering them by appropriating their personal information. Moreover, these practices support externalisation, open creative possibilities, and invite new perspectives on therapeutic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is an interview with Prof. Julian Müller, a prominent scholar in practical and pastoral theology. The interview explores Prof. Müller's transition from ministry to academia, his research interests, and his insights on the future of practical and pastoral theology in South Africa. Prof. Müller's reflections offer valuable perspectives on the dynamic nature of practical theology and its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. His research trajectory has evolved from homiletics and liturgy to pastoral care, narrative, and interdisciplinary studies. He emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of metaphorical thinking in practical theology and pastoral care. Prof. Müller's work blurs the boundaries between practical theological research and pastoral theological research, emphasizing a holistic mindset and interconnectedness. The text discusses the development of practical theology and its interdisciplinary nature, outlining a seven-movement structure for research in the field. It also highlights the role of student engagement in practical theological research and the changing landscape of practical and pastoral theology in South Africa. The author refrains from identifying a single greatest practical or pastoral theologian and instead emphasizes the continuous evolution and renewal of the field. The highlight of the author's academic career is being invited to present an expert lecture at the University of Pretoria. [Extracted from the article]

This commentary discusses the therapy of "Alice" and "Steve," a late-life married couple using Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) with a special emphasis on navigating Erik Erikson's final psychosocial stage, that of Integrity vs. Despair. The support and validation offered the couple by a university-based student clinician allowed the couple to rewrite the narrative of their relationship in ways that helped them connect and be present for each other in a time of illness and impending loss. Implications for the benefits of teletherapy for expanding access are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A healthy marriage is a crucial protective factor for adapting to the challenges of late life. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) is an attachment-based model of psychotherapy that emphasizes here-and-now processing of emotion in a safe holding environment; enhanced understanding of the patterned interactions between self and other; and a non-pathologizing, growth-oriented approach toward couples' difficulties. This case study examines the benefits of EFCT for addressing issues specific to late life, including existential concerns such as aging, illness, and mortality; caregiving burdens and stress; cumulative relational trauma over the lifespan; and forgiveness and healing from emotional injuries. The case study involved a 20-session, teletherapy treatment of a couple named "Alice" and "Steve," aged 74 and 75, respectively, with Steve suffering from advanced Parkinson's Disease. The couple presented with hopelessness and resentment about their caregiving situation, unresolved traumas from early childhood fueling their relationship's sore spots, and unprocessed grief and fears concerning losses at the end stage of life. The EFCT-guided treatment focused on promoting transformational and corrective experiences of secure attachment bonding. Throughout therapy, Alice and Steve cultivated coherent, positive perspectives of their marriage and related hardships by engaging in reminiscence; embraced their longings for each other by relinquishing their defenses against loss and mourning; and strengthened the legacy of their marriage by exploring their shared values and vision of family life. At the end of therapy, the clients retrospectively completed several standardized, quantitative measures assessing aspects of emotional and relational health. Their responses evidenced their heightened emotional awareness and acceptance, increased marital adjustment and satisfaction, and improved attachment security over the course of the therapy. This case study highlights EFCT as a potent therapeutic intervention for fostering relationship health in later-life individuals to reduce the public health risks associated with social disconnection and loneliness in the aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The narrative approaches touched rather recently psychology and medical sciences. An outline of the intersection between narrative therapy and palliative care comprises major constructs such as "response to trauma" and "absent but implicit". Relevant to palliative care psychological support, the paper includes two practical examples and a general description of a "scaffolding" of themes designed to support a narrative-therapy conversation exploring responses to trauma. Narrative therapy practices, such as "Tree of Life" and "Remembering are implemented to support the development and sustenance of desirable identity claims, descriptions, and stories, engaging the person in palliative care in this narrative re-authoring process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the research on narrative identity has used the Life Story Interview (LSI) to better understand the person through the story they construct of their life. However, the effect that the LSI has on participants has not yet been examined. Study 1 looked at 163 middle-aged adults who completed a measure of self-reported positive and negative affect both immediately before and after being interviewed. Results indicated that participants experienced a significant increase in positive affect and that this mood boost was experienced regardless of background, personality, and mental health. Study 2 involved a qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts of the 20 participants who experienced the most and the least benefit from the interview, with results indicating three emerging themes (identity development, identity fulfillment, the storied self) that appear to reflect two forms of storytelling: autobiographical versus episodic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used for the past 50 years for conditions such as decompression disease and wound healing. It has promising effects in the treatment of vision-threatening diseases, such as retinal artery occlusion, retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, and acute optic neuropathy; however, HBOT has not been approved for use in these conditions by regulatory authorities. This paper provides an overview of the theoretical effectiveness and most recent indications for HBOT in ophthalmology. The fundamental aspects of the physiology of choroidal circulation and metabolism are provided together with the clinical aspects that should be accounted for when selecting patients for this therapy. The paper also presents case reports of when HBOT was successfully implemented. The goals of this review were to explore the indications and benefits of HBOT and to evaluate the effectiveness of HBOT as an intervention in treating ophthalmology disorders. Lastly, the paper details the side-effects and discusses the safety issues of HBOT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontitis, a chronic infectious disease, is primarily caused by a dysbiotic microbiome, leading to the destruction of tooth‐supporting tissues and tooth loss. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which combines excitation light with photosensitizers (PS) and oxygen to produce antibacterial reactive oxygen species, is emerging as a promising adjuvant treatment for periodontitis. Methods: This review focuses on studies examining the antibacterial effects of PDT against periodontal pathogens. It also explores the impact of PDT on various aspects of periodontal health, including periodontal immune cells, human gingival fibroblasts, gingival collagen, inflammatory mediators, cytokines in the periodontium, vascular oxidative stress, vascular behavior, and alveolar bone health. Clinical trials assessing the types of PSs and light sources used in PDT, as well as its effects on clinical and immune factors in gingival sulcus fluid and the bacterial composition of dental plaque, are discussed. Results: The findings indicate that PDT is effective in reducing periodontal pathogens and improving markers of periodontal health. It has shown positive impacts on periodontal immune response, tissue integrity, and alveolar bone preservation. Clinical trials have demonstrated improvements in periodontal health and alterations in the microbial composition of dental plaque when PDT is used alongside conventional treatments. Conclusions: PDT offers a promising adjunctive treatment for periodontitis, with benefits in bacterial reduction, tissue healing, and immune modulation. This article highlights the potential of PDT in periodontal therapy and emphasizes the need for further research to refine its clinical application and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and background: Chronic headaches are a common type of headache that can significantly impact daily functioning. While drug therapy is often used to treat these headaches, it may not provide sufficient relief on its own. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of solution-focused therapy and narrative therapy in helping women with chronic headaches cope with stress and manage their emotions. Material and Methods: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. The participants were women with chronic headaches who were attending a neurology clinic in Tehran in 2023. Forty-five women were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (15 women in each group) and one control group (15 women). The experimental groups received eight sessions of either solution-focused therapy or narrative therapy, each lasting 90 minutes. The control group did not receive any intervention and remained on a waiting list. Data were collected using the short-form McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ-2) and the ways of coping questionnaire (WCQ) developed by Dworkin et al. (2009) and Folkman & Lazarus (1988), respectively. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-28 software, encompassing descriptive and inferential statistics (repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc test). Results: The results indicated that both interventions had a significant effect on the ways of coping with stress at the post-test and follow-up assessments (P<0.05). Additionally, the Bonferroni post hoc test revealed that self-narrative therapy was more effective in improving emotion-based coping with stress (P < 0.05). Conclusion: ThisBased on the findings, solution-focused therapy and narrative therapy can be considered as effective treatment methods for helping women with chronic headaches cope with stress and manage their emotions. Counseling centers may prioritize the use of narrative therapy in the treatment of women with chronic headaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is a recommended intervention for people with multiple trauma histories; however, research is lacking into its use with people experiencing psychosis, many of whom report multiple trauma histories. Objective: This study aimed to explore experiences of NET in early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services. Method: Eight clinicians and four experts with lived experience (experts by experience) of psychosis and multiple trauma were interviewed on a single occasion using two versions (clinician and expert by experience) of a semi-structured interview schedule. Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five overarching themes were generated, relating to fear and avoidance of memories, importance of trust, organizing memories and making new meaning, reconnecting with emotions, and considerations when delivering NET in EIP. Conclusions: Directly addressing the impact of multiple trauma in people experiencing first episode psychosis is frightening and emotive, but helps to address painful memories and organize them into a personal narrative. Increases in distress and anomalous experiences were carefully considered by clinicians, but typically outweighed by the benefits of NET. Challenges were comparable to those described in non-psychosis research. Implications for clinical practice and future research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals suffering from PTSD following childhood abuse represent a large subgroup of patients attending mental health services. The aim of phase-based treatment is to tailor treatment to the specific needs to childhood abuse survivors with PTSD with a Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) phase, in which emotion dysregulation and interpersonal problems are targeted, and a trauma-focused phase. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare STAIR + Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) vs. STAIR + Narrative Therapy (NT) as treatments for PTSD following childhood-onset trauma in a routine clinical setting. Method: Sixty-eight adults were randomly assigned to STAIR/EMDR (8 STAIR-sessions followed by 12 EMDR-sessions) or STAIR/NT (8 STAIR-sessions followed by 12 NT-sessions). Assessments took place at pre-treatment, after each treatment phase and at 3 and 12 months postintervention follow-up. Primary outcomes were interviewer-rated and self-reported symptom levels of PTSD. Secondary outcomes included symptom levels of depression and disturbances in emotion regulation and interpersonal skills. Results: Multilevel analyses in the intent-to-treat sample indicated that patients in both treatments improved substantially on PTSD symptom severity (CAPS: d = 0.81 to 1.29; PDS: d = 1.68 to 2.15), as well as on symptom levels of depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, dissociation and interpersonal skills. Effects increased or were maintained until 12-month follow-up. At mid-treatment, after STAIR, patients in both treatments improved moderately on PTSD symptom severity (PDS: d = 1.68 to 2.15), as well as on symptom levels of depression (BDI: d = .32 to .31). Symptoms of anxiety, emotion dysregulation, interpersonal problems and dissociation were not decreased after STAIR. There were no significant differences between the two conditions on any outcome. Conclusion: PTSD in adult survivors of childhood interpersonal trauma can effectively be treated by phase-based interventions using either EMDR or NT in the trauma-processing phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special section contains studies in which innovative moments are used as markers of changes in meaning in psychotherapy. Innovative moments, as an empirical operationalization of the concept of "unique outcomes" from narrative therapy, have been used as a strategy to evaluate changes in meaning in psychotherapy sessions and interviews. Innovative moments are defined as exceptions to the problematic pattern of meaning that is associated with clients' suffering. The emergence of these change markers indicates that flexibility is occurring in the meaning system. This special section contains five studies. Esposito et al. address innovative moments in group intervention by considering the idea that these events are not just individual but also interactional and collective events. Shimshi et al. study shifts between self-states and their relation to innovative moment production in therapy. These shifts are associated with the production of innovative moments, providing further support for the idea that flexibility and the emergence of these change markers are associated. Leeav et al. analyze the relationship between innovative moment production and the therapeutic alliance in a single case study. Fernandez-Navarro et al. interview therapists to understand whether coding innovative moments in sessions may help therapists become more attuned to these events in practice. Finally, Koustafa et al. analyze the evolution of innovative moments in a small sample of individuals with bulimia nervosa. Together, these studies illustrate the potential of this concept as well the domains in which it may be applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic patient narratives emerging in the process of treatment have been identified as important factors in the maintenance of psychopathology, and their change is associated with desired treatment outcomes. This increased focus in psychotherapy research has triggered the investigation of innovative moments (IMs) as novelties in patient narratives in therapy. This exploratory study aims to investigate the development of IMs throughout treatment in bulimia nervosa (BN) in a sample of good and poor outcome cases, and examine their longitudinal associations with binge and purge frequency change. IMs were coded in sixty sessions across five good outcome and five poor outcome cases in different stages of treatment. Generalized estimating equation analyses indicated that IMs evolved significantly over time, with different trajectories between good and poor outcome groups. High-level IMs showed higher proportion in the good outcome group at the end of treatment indicating that the ability to elaborate on how and why change might occur (as measured by high-level IMs) plays a role in the process of change in BN. Additionally, both low- and high-level IMs predicted symptom decrease in the following session. The study provides a preliminary understanding of important patient narrative processes in psychotherapy for BN and their association with treatment change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to review the experimental studies conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the narrative therapy approach. In order to investigate the effectiveness of Narrative Therapy, Turkish and English studies published between 2006-2022 (December) in the databases of DergiPark, YÖK Thesis Center, Web Of Science, Sobiad, Science Direct, and Wiley Online Library were searched. The keywords “narrative therapy” “collective narrative practice” “narrative therapy groups” were used in the search. As a result of the scanning, a total of 19 articles suitable for the purpose of the research were reviewed. These articles are presented in terms of research methods, study findings and therapy characteristics. The study findings show that narrative therapy is effective on dependent variables. The results show that narrative therapy has a preventive and remedial effect in group therapies with children, adolescents and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Cuadernos Médico Sociales is the property of Colegio Medico de Chile (A.G.) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article is a review of the book "Recovering Assemblages: Unfolding Sociomaterial Relations of Drug Use and Recovery" by Aysel Sultan. The reviewer, Tom Strong, discusses the book's exploration of drug use and recovery through the lens of assemblage theory and actor network theory. Sultan's research focuses on young people recovering from drug misuse in Azerbaijan and Germany, highlighting the unique and ever-changing circumstances they face. The book challenges traditional views of recovery and emphasizes the importance of understanding the sociomaterial aspects of the recovery process. Strong suggests that the book may be of interest to researchers and community workers seeking innovative ideas on recovery. [Extracted from the article]

As artificial intelligence becomes pervasive, therapists might be left wondering about its implications for narrative practice. This paper explores an unexpected discovery about the power of artificial intelligence in re-imagining a story of injustice. Lucy (the therapist) and Miles (the client) used an AI image creator to assist in the externalisation of problems. Creating imagery representing Miles’s story of injustice and sharing the images with outsider witnesses became acts of justice and healing. The process of narrative justice using AI has implications for the practice of narrative therapy. This article finishes with an opportunity for readers and viewers to respond to Miles’s online gallery of imagery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Narrative therapy is a technique that was first introduced in the 1970s by an Australian social worker. Yet, its impact has been a major influence in various scientific domains, including: preventive medicine, health psychology and sociology amongst others. Alongside storytelling, the narrative therapist or a trained health professional aids people to create stories about themselves, their identities and their overall situation they face in a way that may be self-healing for them. By 'co-authoring' a new story about one's self, the health professional and the patient are creating therapeutic environment. Aim: The aim of this special article is to elaborate on the context, within which a therapist or a trained health care professional uses narrative techniques or storytelling to assist patients co-author a new narrative about themselves by investigating the background core of their values, independently of their age, health status or healthcare setting. Discussion: Storytelling and narrative therapy techniques can form the basis for therapeutic conversations, which seek to challenge dominant discourses in viewing disease and hardship in destructive ways. The biomedical model sets the framework for a holistic approach and narrative therapy adds an appropriate patient and family centered addition to it. Although narrative work is considered to be part of family therapy, many authors claim that by employing these techniques in any healthcare setting by nurses, can be beneficial for the patients since engage them to cope with their illness-related challenges and assist healthcare professionals to better meet the needs of patients and families. Their implementation in a paediatric setting seems to be beneficial and feasible because not only sets family in the center of the care but also assist children explore support systems, mechanisms and coping strategies helping them build resilience. Conclusions: Storytelling within the context of Narrative Practice is a mode of therapy that seeks to help patients identify their values and skills associated with them. Under this light, nurses need to provide their patients with the knowledge of their ability to live these values so they can effectively deal with the complexities of current or future disease. Narrative techniques and storytelling seem to be useful in all ages, but there is an increased evidence for their implications in the care of children and young adults. Their implication is simple and there is increased evidence that they can be effective and feasible to any health setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an article published in 1960 in the Teachers' Monthly , the great Nigerian writer D. O. Fágúnwà describes his novels, and most Nigerian novels of his generation, as "Spenserian." This essay sets out to unpack what he means, pushing against a critical tradition that sees Bunyan rather than Spenser as Fágúnwà's main Anglophone intertext. Spenser's complex, semantically unstable use of allegory unexpectedly dovetails with traditional Yorùbá narrative practices, in which the exegesis and the narration of allegorical stories are both seen as highly creative, open-ended endeavors. Focusing on Fágúnwà's Igbó Olódùmarè (1949), I show that Fágúnwà's allegories, like Spenser's, are richly intertextual—playing with both Western sources and Yorùbá ones—and sophisticatedly attuned to his contemporary politics. I finally argue that Fágúnwà sees his surprising affinity with Spenser as a form of Spenserian doubling, at once a welcome discovery and a warning about the dangers of trusting in the efficacy of transcultural communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]